Abstract: Within the framework of a realist view of the physical world, there are two general theories of the nature of perception. The first is strong direct realism (SDR). This accepts a realist view of the physical world, and claims that our perceptual access to this world is psychologically direct. The second is the broad representative theory (BRT). This too accepts a realist view of the world, but claims that perceptual contact with physical items is always psychologically mediated, i.e. it is constituted by the combination of the subject's being in a more fundamental psychological state, which is not in itself physical-item perceptive, and certain additional facts. SDR cannot provide a satisfactory account of the phenomenal content of perception and how such content features in the securing of perceptual contact. BRT cannot explain how we can have genuine perceptual access to the physical world at all. In the face of this dilemma, the only way of providing a satisfactory account of perception is by abandoning the assumption of physical realism and adopting an idealist view of the physical world. This view can, in any case, be established as correct by independent arguments.

Keywords: direct realism, John Foster, idealism, mediation, perception, perceptual experience, phenomenal content, phenomenal experience, philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, physical world, qualia, realism, representation